Finally Home: the University of Florida Campus As a Microcosm of American Post World War Ii Residential Design
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FINALLY HOME: THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA CAMPUS AS A MICROCOSM OF AMERICAN POST WORLD WAR II RESIDENTIAL DESIGN By JENNIFER LANE SCOTT GARRETT A THESIS PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF INTERIOR DESIGN UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2005 Copyright 2005 by Jennifer L. Garrett To Tim ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my committee members for their great insight and guidance through this process. Professor Susan Tate, my committee chairperson, has been an extraordinary mentor to me through this process. Working as her assistant has been the most meaningful and enlightening experience of my educational career, and I will call on her wisdom for years to come. Professor Tate introduced me to some of the most important people in preservation today, including Roy Graham, whose recommendations to me as a committee member were invaluable. My research would not have been possible without the assistance of Dr. Julian Pleasants and the office of the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at the University of Florida. Roberta Peacock and Ben Houston were especially helpful in guiding me through the oral history process and keeping my research organized. I would also like to thank the participants of the Flavet Oral History Program and their willingness to share their university experiences. As part of my research, I had the pleasure of working with Harold Barrand of University Physical Plant Division and Linda Dixon in the Facilities Planning Division of University of Florida. Their assistance was crucial in obtaining accurate campus maps and building plans and specifications. In addition, the University of Florida Archives staff was helpful in providing pictures and documents relating to campus history. I would also like to thank the organizations that have provided funding for preservation research on the University of Florida campus including the State of Florida, iv the Getty Foundation, and Florida Educational Facilities Planners. The financial support of these organizations ensures that the University of Florida will continue to protect its rich architectural past. Finally, I would like to thank my husband, Timothy Garrett, for his encouragement and support, my family for their high expectations, and my friends for making it fun. I thank God for blessing me with all these individuals that have brought me to this point. v TABLE OF CONTENTS page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iv LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... viii ABSTRACT.........................................................................................................................x CHAPTER 1 PURPOSE OF RESEARCH.........................................................................................1 2 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................2 3 LITERATURE REVIEW.............................................................................................5 UF and Modernism.......................................................................................................6 Collegetown..................................................................................................................7 4 RESEARCH METHODS...........................................................................................13 5 HOUSING IN POST WAR AMERICA.....................................................................18 Architectural Context..................................................................................................18 The National Building Crisis......................................................................................20 Acute Shortage of Residential Housing ..............................................................20 The GI Bill and Housing .....................................................................................22 Modernism in Residential Design ..............................................................................22 Modern Ideals and References to the Past...........................................................23 Suburbia......................................................................................................................25 The Residents ......................................................................................................26 Levittown.............................................................................................................26 Prefabricated Housing Design ....................................................................................27 Designing for the Environmental Setting ...................................................................29 National Trends In Residence Hall Design ................................................................30 Summary.....................................................................................................................33 vi 6 THE POST-WAR UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA CAMPUS: UNPRECEDENTED DEMAND FOR HOUSING FAMILIES AND WOMEN ......34 The Campus Context ..................................................................................................34 Enrollment ..................................................................................................................35 UF Housing Shortage 1946 ........................................................................................36 Student Demographics................................................................................................37 Campus Plan 1946-1950.............................................................................................38 Flavets.........................................................................................................................42 Veterans’ Issues...................................................................................................45 Flavet as a City ....................................................................................................47 Social Differences in Flavet ................................................................................51 Design Differences in Flavet...............................................................................53 Comparison of Collegetown and Flavets. ...........................................................54 Flavet and Suburbia.............................................................................................56 The Colonial Revival Influence...........................................................................58 The President’s House ................................................................................................60 The Modern Residence Halls......................................................................................64 Location on Campus: Reflection of Site and Climate.........................................65 Interpretation of Traditional Features..................................................................69 Roof Design and Compatibility...........................................................................71 Windows..............................................................................................................72 Fulton’s State of the Art Designs ........................................................................75 Summary.....................................................................................................................76 7 CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................77 APPENDIX A MASTER SITE FILE FORM FOR MALLORY/YULEE/REID HALLS.................82 B MASTER SITE FILE FORM FOR MEN’S RESIDENCE HALLS..........................87 C FLAVET ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW QUESTIONS- FEMALE......................91 D FLAVET ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW QUESTIONS-MALE............................96 LIST OF REFERENCES.................................................................................................101 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH ...........................................................................................105 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure page 5.1 Baker House at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ........................................32 6.1 University of Florida Campus Map, Fall 1945 ......................................................38 6.2 University of Florida Campus Map, Summer 1947...............................................39 6.3 University of Florida Campus Map, Summer 1950...............................................41 6.4 Family Living in Flavet I ......................................................................................42 6.5 Flavet I, south of the stadium.................................................................................43 6.6 Single Story Unit Construction ............................................................................43 6.7 Two Story Unit Construction ................................................................................44 6.8 Flavet III Fire Department ....................................................................................47 6.9 Flavet III Community Garden ...............................................................................48 6.10 The Three Press .....................................................................................................49